Equipment mounting bracket for steel truss and method for electrical equipment

ABSTRACT

The truss mounting bracket simplifies installation of electronic type equipment below fabricated trusses commonly used in warehouse and other buildings. The mounting bracket includes a housing having at one end thereof a structure for connecting with an electrical conduit section. The opposite end of the housing is adapted to allow securement below a fabricated truss. A head portion extends from a center portion of the housing and has a thread connection therewith. The head portion engages the truss and allows the housing to be tightened against the lower surface of the truss. The conduit and the housing allow electrical cables to pass through the conduit and at least partially through the housing.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation application of Ser. No. 15/077,455, filed Mar.22, 2016, currently allowed, which is in turn a continuation applicationof Ser. No. 14/358,253, filed May 15, 2014, now patented which claimsbenefit of U.S. provisional application 61/560,325 filed Nov. 16, 2011.The subject matter of the aforementioned prior applications is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a mounting bracket for a fabricatedsteel truss that is suitable for suspending video surveillance cameras,security devices or other equipment from a fabricated truss and a methodfor mounting electrical equipment. The mounting bracket accommodateselectrical conductors to allow for powering of the mounted equipment.

Security devices in both warehouse and retail applications commonly usevideo surveillance cameras or other sensing devices that are suspendedfrom a fabricated steel truss or the like structure used for supportingroofs. The most common exposed steel trusses are of a composite designand have a two-piece lower chord member typically L-shaped anglebrackets placed in a back-to-back spaced orientation. Rod web membersare welded between the angle brackets and connect to a top chordstructure. With roof trusses of this design, there is a center gapbetween the back-to-back L-shaped angle brackets and this center gapallows a securing member to pass therebetween and engage an uppersurface of the lower chord.

United States Publication 2006/0254190 discloses a mounting bracket fora fabricated roof truss of the type described above. This mountingbracket includes a multi-component structure having a series of membersengaging the upper flange of the lower chord member and a lower portionfor engaging the bottom surface of the lower chord.

Although this structure is an improvement over many existing designs, itstill is relatively complicated and includes multiple components thatrequire a relatively sophisticated mounting procedure.

The present invention provides a simplified arrangement that reducesinstallation time and simplifies the installation process for securityand similar devices to be suspended below a fabricated truss.

The present invention provides an improved mounting bracket that iseasier to install and more aesthetically pleasing. The overall look ofthe mounting bracket is an important aspect as these types of suspendedsystems are now commonly used in retail applications and will certainlybe visible to the consumers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A mount bracket for a steel truss according to the present inventioncomprises a housing and a suspending member that cooperates with thehousing for securing of the mount bracket. The housing includes a firstsection having a generally planar mount surface as one end thereof and atubular collar at a narrow end of said first section opposite the mountsurface. The mount surface includes a center mount area about a threadedport that is aligned with an axis of the first section. The center mountarea has two or more arms extending outwardly therefrom and structurallyattached to the first section with cable passage ports being definedbetween the center mount portion and the first section. The suspendingmember includes a threaded shank received in and structurally engagingthe threaded port. The suspending member includes a hook portion at oneend thereof sized for engaging a lower chord member of a fabricatedsteel truss. Preferably the first section has a conical shape.

According to an aspect of the invention the center mount area includesthree or four arms spaced about the center mount area with the cablepassage ports being located between each of the adjacent arms of thethree or four arms.

In yet a further aspect of the invention the center mount area and thethreaded port are aligned with a longitudinal axis of the first section.

In a further aspect of the invention the first section, the tubularcollar, the arms and the center mount area are part of an integralcasting.

In yet a further aspect of the invention the tubular collar includes athreaded stop member passing through and engaging port in the tubularsleeve. The threaded stop member engages an electrical conduit having anend received in and retained in the sleeve portion. The threaded stopmember preferably presses against and fixedly engages the end of theelectrical conduit in the tubular sleeve.

In yet a further aspect of the invention the three or four arms arethree arms with three cable passage ports located between adjacent armswith each of the ports being of an oval shape in top view of thehousing.

In a further aspect of the invention the one end of the suspended memberis defined by a curved hook portion integral with the shank.

In an aspect of the invention the hook portion is defined by a ‘T’shaped head.

In a further aspect of the invention the curved hook portion is made toone side of a longitudinal axis of the shank.

In a further aspect of the invention the conduit at an end remote thehousing supports a surveillance camera.

In yet a further aspect of the invention the surveillance cameraincludes a cable harness that passes through the conduit and through oneof the cable passage ports and passes through a lower chord of a rooftruss.

In a further aspect of the invention the housing includes a sidewallport to allow cabling to pass therethrough.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a mounting bracket of the invention with asupported security camera;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional through the mounting bracket;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the mounting bracket;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing electrical cables being fedthrough one of the ports of the mount bracket;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an alternate mounting bracket with ahook securement member and for attachment to the lower chord;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are side views of the alternate mounting bracket of FIG.5; and

FIG. 8 is a top view of the alternate mounting bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The truss mounting bracket 2 shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 includes aT-shaped head 4 fixedly secured to the threaded rod 6. The T-shaped head4 is sized to pass through the gap between two L-shaped angle members100 and 102 of the lower chord 104 of a fabricated steel truss (see FIG.3). Once the T-shaped head 4 passes through the gap, it is rotated90.degree. and lowered such that the top of the T engages the top edgeof the lower chord member 104. This T-shaped head 4 includes downwardlyangled flanges 12 to engage the sides of the L-shaped angle members andhold the threaded rod 6 against rotation. The threaded rod 6 engages thethreaded center section 14 of the housing 40. The threaded centersection 14 is connected to the conical section 116 by the arm portions20 (see FIG. 2). Large oval shaped ports 24 are defined between theperipheral wall 26 of the conical section and a center threaded port 30provided in the center section 14. The oval ports 24 are located betweensupport arms 25 connected to and supporting the center section 14. Threearms 25 are shown, however two or four arms would also be satisfactory.

With this arrangement the housing 40, which includes the conical section26 and the integral tubular sleeve 44, can be rotated and thus thehousing is drawn up towards the T-shaped head. This allows the housingto be tightened against the bottom surface of the lower chord wherebythe generally planar upper mounting face 50 of the conical section 26engages the lower face of the chord and locks therewith. If desired alocking nut 111 may be threaded on the bottom portion of the threadedrod 6 and secured up against the center section 14. A long socket wrenchcan be used for driving of the nut. This provides an effective lock. Ithas been found such a lock nut is generally not required but in someapplications where high vibration may be incurred or where additionalconfidence in the mounting is required, a lock nut may be used.

With this arrangement a conduit 131 (see FIG. 4) is received in thetubular sleeve 44 and is held in this tubular sleeve portion by a lockbolt 52 or other securing member. The tubular sleeve 44 is sized tocooperate with a standard size electrical conduit and thus the equipmentto be suspended below the truss, can be located at different spacingbelow the truss merely by appropriately cutting a length of standardconduit. Fasteners, such as threaded screws or bolts can be secured inports 101 to secure the conduit to the tubular sleeve 44. The use ofstandard conduit is also advantageous due to its low cost andavailability.

In the case of electrical equipment, for example, surveillance camera200 (shown in FIG. 1) or video surveillance cameras, cables 70 can passup from the electrical device through the electrical conduit and throughthe housing. The oval ports 24 are provided in the housing and one ofthese ports will be generally aligned with the gap in the lower surfaceof the truss.

As previously described, the lower chord member 106 includesback-to-back angle members 100, 102 separated by the web bars which areonly provided at space points in the truss. Thus there is a gap betweenthe angled members and one of the oval ports 24 will align with thisgap. In this way, electrical cables shown as 70 (FIG. 4) can passupwardly through the housing and through one of the ports 24 and throughthe gap between the angled members of the truss. Typically theseelectrical cables can then be secured to the lower chord of the trussand appropriately connected to receive power. With this arrangementfeeding of the cabling is completed after securement of the housingbelow the lower chord.

The housing 40 is preferably a single piece casting such that theconical section 116 and the tubular sleeve 44 as well as the arms areall integral. The ports 24 can be made as a part of the casting and thusthe housing includes a generally clear center portion for allowing ofthe cabling to pass therethrough. As can be appreciated the T-shapedhead and threaded rod form a suspending member where the threaded rodshank engages the center section. The conical section providesadditional room for the cables to pass by the securement arms and theoval ports are positioned such that one of the ports will generallyalign with the center gap of the fabricated truss.

It is also possible for any cables to pass through a sidewall of theconical section rather than passing through one of the ports in theplanar face 50.

FIGS. 5 through 8 illustrate a preferred structure where the T-shapedbolt and threaded rod have been replaced by a single hook shapedsuspending member 180 having a threaded shank 182 engaging the centerport 30 of the housing and a hooked end portion 184 positioned upwardlyof the housing for engaging the upper flange of the lower chord of afabricated truss. The port 300 in the housing (see FIGS. 7 and 8) allowscables to pass through the sidewall of the housing. With thisarrangement the device, the conduit and the electrical cabling areassembled to the housing. The housing with the suspending member 180 canbe loosely secured below a lower chord. The housing and the device arerotated to draw the housing up against the lower chord. The electricalcables merely rotate with the housing. Once the housing is secured belowthe lower chord, the electrical cables can pass upwardly to the truss onthe outside of the housing for appropriate electrical connection.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are side views of the alternate embodiment where the hookportion 184 projects above the housing for engaging one of the angleiron members of the lower chord of a truss. The housing can be rotatedon the threaded shank 182 and moved upwardly to engage the lower surfaceof the truss. This can be effectively threaded by hand and considerableforce can be exerted on the housing such that it is normally notnecessary to use a tool to securely tighten the housing beneath thelower surface of the truss.

The alternate mounting bracket of FIGS. 5 through 8 allows initialassembly of the mounting bracket to a length of standard conduit 202 anda surveillance camera or other device 300. The mounting bracket with thesuspending member, i.e. the threaded bolt and hook portion 184, can bein a loose position, however the threaded portion is still in engagementwith the housing. With one hand, the user can align the hook portionwith the lower gap of a truss. The hook portion can then pass betweenthe two angled members of the lower chord. Once the hook clears theupper surface of the angled members, it is rotated approximately90.degree. and then allowed to move downwardly such that the hookportion engages one of the angled members. Once the hook portion hasbeen so located the housing preferably is rotated by hand to effectivelysecure the housing beneath the lower surface of the lower chord.

The alternate mounting bracket includes the through the wall port 300located in and opening into the conical housing. Electrical wiring fromthe surveillance camera or other device can be fed through this portprior to installation. The entire assembly, for example, camera, conduitand conical housing are rotated to quickly thread the housing on thehook bolt and draw the housing up against the truss. Once securedbeneath the truss the wiring can be fed along the truss for connectionto related equipment. If desired it is possible to feed the wiringthrough the housing and truss as previously described with respect toFIGS. 1 to 4. In this case a cap or closing member preferably closesport 300.

The time required to mount this type of structure is greatly reducedwith either embodiment and a considerable benefit with respect toinstallation and labour is realized. These structures are compatiblewith composite roof truss structures used in warehousing and many retailapplications. A further advantage of this system is the simplicity inrelocating of the device if required. For example, if it is necessary tomove the camera marginally on the truss, the process is not particularlydifficult. Typically the cable is disconnected and the housing ispartially rotated to allow sliding of the mount bracket on the lowersurface of the truss. The device can then be appropriately relocated andsecured. The cabling is then reconnected.

Depending upon the particular application, it may be necessary to fullyremove the mount bracket from the lower surface of the truss to relocateto a different gap between structural members of the web of the truss.Although this is somewhat more time consuming, it typically requiresdisconnecting of the cabling, loosening of the housing from the threadedbolt, removal of the threaded bolt from the truss followed by therelocation and resecurement of the housing. This can typically be doneby the end user or a nonskilled labourer.

This ability to easily relocate the structure is quite valuable asretail layouts change from time to time and similarly warehouse layoutschange. This provides a simplified approach to accommodate differentlayouts as may be required from time to time. Furthermore, it may bedesirable to relocate existing equipment from one location to adifferent location within the space and this is easily accomplished withthe present structure.

This under truss mounting bracket has particular application formounting surveillance cameras, detectors and sensors however otherelectrical equipment can also be secured including electrical fans,lighting, signage, wireless access points and other related equipment.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedherein, it would be understood by those of skill in the art thatvariations may be made thereto without departing from the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

1. A method for mounting electrical equipment, comprising: securing asingle suspending member to a support, the suspending member comprisinga threaded rod; rotatably coupling the threaded rod of the singlesuspending member with a threaded section of a housing; threadedlyrotating the housing about the threaded rod to rotate the housing whileadvancing it towards a bottom surface of the support whereby the housingcontinues to rotate until a mounting face of the housing engages thebottom surface of the support and locks therewith; and coupling theelectrical equipment to the housing so that the electrical equipment issuspended below the support.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein couplingthe electrical equipment to the housing comprises securing an electricalconduit to a tubular sleeve on the housing and securing the electricalequipment to the tubular sleeve.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thesupport is a truss.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein: the truss is afabricated truss comprising two L-shaped angle members arranged inback-to-back spaced orientation with a gap therebetween to form a lowerchord of the truss; and the bottom surface of the support is a bottomsurface of the lower chord.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprisingpassing cables up from the electrical device through a port in thehousing and through a gap between the two L-shaped angle members of thetruss.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the port is formed through themounting face of the housing.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein theelectrical equipment is a surveillance camera.
 8. The method of claim 4,wherein: the suspending member includes a T-shaped head fixedly securedto the threaded rod; the T-shaped head is sized to pass through the gapbetween the two L-shaped angle members; and securing the suspendingmember to the support comprises: passing the T-shaped head through thegap; and once the T-shaped head has passed through the gap, rotating theT-shaped head about 90° and lowering the T-shaped head such that a topof the T engages the top edge of the lower chord.
 9. The method of claim8, wherein the T-shaped head includes downwardly angled flanges toengage the sides of the L-shaped angle members and hold the threaded rodagainst rotation.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the suspendingmember is a single hook shaped suspending member having a threadedshank.
 11. A method for mounting electrical equipment, comprising: for asingle suspending member secured to a support wherein the suspendingmember comprises a threaded rod, rotatably coupling the threaded rod ofthe single suspending member with a threaded section of a housing;threadedly rotating the housing about the threaded rod to rotate thehousing while advancing it towards a bottom surface of the supportwhereby the housing continues to rotate until a mounting face of thehousing engages the bottom surface of the support and locks therewith;and coupling the electrical equipment to the housing so that theelectrical equipment is suspended below the support.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, wherein coupling the electrical equipment to the housingcomprises securing an electrical conduit to a tubular sleeve on thehousing and securing the electrical equipment to the tubular sleeve. 13.The method of claim 11, wherein the support is a truss.
 14. The methodof claim 13, wherein: the truss is a fabricated truss comprising twoL-shaped angle members arranged in back-to-back spaced orientation witha gap therebetween to form a lower chord of the truss; and the bottomsurface of the support is a bottom surface of the lower chord.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising passing cables up from theelectrical device through a port in the housing and through a gapbetween the two L-shaped angle members of the truss.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the port is formed through the mounting face of thehousing.
 17. The method of claim 11, wherein the electrical equipment isa surveillance camera.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein thesuspending member includes a T-shaped head fixedly secured to thethreaded rod.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the T-shaped headincludes downwardly angled flanges.
 20. The method of claim 11, whereinthe suspending member is a single hook shaped suspending member having athreaded shank.